What Does Love Feel Like?

God loves us even though he knows we won’t love him back as perfectly as he loves us.

Exodus 13:17 “When pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines although that was near. For God said, “Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.”

God knew even after he rescued them from slavery that they would easily forget, get scared and turn to go right back into bondage. He knew they would not be faithful and love him the way he loved them, but he loved them anyway and he made accommodations along the way to remind them of his love and faithfulness and guide them to the promised land.

Exodus 13:21-22 “He went before them day by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.”

He loves us even though he knows we are not going to love him back in the same way and be faithful.

What is love? The Bible tells us that love is patient and kind and that it always protects, always trusts, always hopes and always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13:7)

What this verse is saying is that love is faithful and forgiving when the other person doesn’t love them back in the same way; when they don’t deserve it. THAT is love.

We see God’s love played out many times in Scripture. He loves Adam and Eve even when they are unfaithful and they don’t deserve it. He loves the Israelites even after they are unfaithful and don’t deserve it. He loves Abraham and Sarah when they are unfaithful and don’t deserve it. He loves David after he is unfaithful and doesn’t deserve it. I could go on and on, but I’ll just mention one more example. The most beautiful example of love ever recorded. Jesus.

Mankind at its worst is evil, depraved, selfish, perverted, ego centric, prideful, hateful, lying, cowardly and completely unfaithful to God over and over again.

In the privacy of your own mind, picture Jesus in the garden before he is arrested. He’s kneeling and praying. You stand before him and every sin you have ever committed is played out in front of him like a movie. Think about the things you have done that you are most ashamed of, that you don’t want anyone to know about. There they are in front of him. He sees them and his flesh is crying out in dread of the humiliation and excruciating death that is before him. He looks at you and your sin and then says, nevertheless, and his emotions mind and body submit to the overwhelming love of God that is in him and he willingly lays down his life in love for you and for me.

41And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” Luke 22:42-42

He loves us even though he knows we won’t love him back as perfectly as he loves us. He loves us even though we are not a faithful bride.

There truly is no feeling like being loved so wholly and completely.

“He left the splendor of heaven, knowing his destiny was the lonely hill of Golgotha, there to lay down his life for me. If that isn’t love, then the ocean is dry, there are no stars in the sky and the sparrow can’t fly. If that isn’t love then heaven is a myth. There’s no feeling like this!” “If That Isn’t Love” by Dottie Rambo

I love that sweet simple song. There is an old video of Dottie playing the guitar and helping Michael English sing it. The video is poor quality but it is still my favorite rendition of the song. To me, the emotion in his voice captures a glimpse of the love of Jesus and maybe the emotion of David singing his psalms to the Lord. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Close your eyes and listen with your heart.